decodeR: Gameful Activities for Introductory Programming
Kelly Bodwin & Allison Theobold
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Why puzzles?
Well designed games emphasize engagement, persistence, and resiliance in the face of setbacks. Games encourage players to act creatively, and collaboratively, to learn new content and skills, and to develop expertise. (Hayward and Fishman 2020)
Humans are naturally interested in learning and internalizing the knowledge, customs, and values surrounding them. (Niemiec and Ryan 2009)
When these psychological needs are met, learners experience greater intrinsic motivation, which can boost their creativity, attention, persistence, and satisfaction.
In video games, players learn simple skills in low-stakes contexts that are then gradually strung together in increasingly complex sequences and scenarios. (Hayward and Fishman 2020)